Documents / Official release
This is a Secret History Staff monograph by Gregory W. Pedlow and Donald E. Welzenbach of the Central Intelligence Agency, published in 1992. It gives a history of the CIA's manned overhead reconnaissance program from 1954 to 1974, covering the development and operation of the U-2 and the A-12 OXCART aircraft. It covers overflights of the Soviet Union, the 1960 downing of Francis Gary Powers, and later operations. One section is titled "U-2s, UFOs, and Operation BLUE BOOK."
From the source:Release of 2026-06-12 This CIA History Staff document chronicles the complete history of the U-2 and OXCART (A-12) high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft programs from 1954 to 1974, detailing their development, operations over the Soviet Union and other targets worldwide, the famous downing of Francis Gary Powers in 1960, organizational reforms following that incident, and the eventual transfer of operations from CIA to Air Force control. A more redacted version of this document has been available on CIA's public website.
“Pacific Ocean”3 pages
41 Gee, ct NOfOftN Chapter 2 I US Field Test Base CIA 26 26 ============Project AOUATONE Personnel Special Assistant to the DCI Jfor Planning and Coordination I Headquarters CIA USAF -1]25 I I I Foreign Field Base A Foreign Fielcj Base B CIA 16 CIA 16 USAF 34 USAF 34 Contract 52 Contract 52 102 102 Total employees: CIA USAF Contract I Foreign Field Base C CIA 16 USAF 34 Contract 52 102 During the firs t hal f of 1955. the project staff grew slowly: many of the individuals working on overhead reconnaissance remained on the rolls of other Agency components. To achieve maximum security, Bissell made the project staff self-sufficient. Project AQUATONE had its own contract management, administrative, financial, logistic, com munications, and security personnel , and, thus, did not need to tum to the Agency directorates for assistance. Funding for Proj,ect AQUATONE was also kept separate from other Agency components; its personnel and operating costs were not paid out of regular Agency accounts. As approving officer for the project, Richard Bissell could obligate funds in amounts up to $100,000; larger sums requ ired i.he DCl's approval.1 At the end of April 1955, Bi sselrs staff developed, and the Deputy Director for Support approved, the firs t table of organization for Proj ect AQUATONE. Once operational. the project would have a ' OSA History. chap. 3. pp. 5-7 (TS Ccxkword).
Not linked to a story yet.
Official release, from the pursue collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. 406 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.